Cassette



Oct. 6, 1936. w c HUNT 2,056,463

CASSETTE Filed Dec. 8, 1931 2 Sheets Sheet 1 Patented Oct. 6, 1936PATENT OFFICE CASSETTE Wayne 0. Hunt, Chicago, 11]., assignor of fortygfii cent to G. G. G. Peckham, Shaker Heights,

Application December 8, 1931, Serial No. 579,678

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in cassettes or holders forsensitized films and intensifiers used in connection with X-rayapparatus.

One of the principal objects is to provide a cassette which may bemanipulated for insertion and removal of the films and intensifiers bythe use of only one hand. A further object is to provide such a devicewhich can be so operated in a shorter time and with less effort. Afurther object is to provide a lighter device of this type without anysacrifice of rigidity. A further object is to provide novel means forthe prevention of fogging of the plates by back scattering or secondaryradiation.

I attain the foregoing and other and more limited objects, as willappear, in and through the construction hereinafter described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevationof the back of the cassette showing the improved locking means in theposition it takes when the cassette is locked; Fig. 2

| is a central longitudinal section showing the locking means inunlocked position; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing amodified 5 form; and Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Referring now tothe accompanying drawings, the numeral l0 indicates a frame ofrectangular shape composed of a bar of steel tubing bent to 30 shape andwelded or otherwise secured to form a rigid unit and being preferablyalthough not necessarily rectangular in cross section. Secured to theframe [0 is a window or front I l composed of a material of such tensilestrength and rigidi- 35 ty as to prevent bulging under applied pressureand having the quality of being readily pervious to X-rays. For thispurpose I prefer to employ one of the synthetic resins, such asbakelite. The window I I may be secured 40 to the frame ID as by aplurality of screws [2. Within the frame l0 and secured to the innerface of the window H, I provide a sheet of felt or similar material l3.At the central part of each of the sides of the frame In I providemilled 45 slots II. In one of the side members I provide slots l5 forreception of hinged knobs "5 carried by hinge members 11. The hinges I!are secured as by screws to the back l8 of the cassette. On the insideof the back It! is a sprayed coating 50 of lead l9 and a layer of felt20, while on the outside is a locking means and control therefor adaptedto cooperate with the slots M in the frame Ill. The sprayed coating oflead serves to prevent fogging of the films due to back scat- 55 tering,while the layer of felt cooperates with a similar layer l3 to hold theX-ray film 2| and intensifier if used.

A plurality of slides 22 are slidably secured to the back I8 as by studs23 extending through slots 24 therein. These slots may be continuous, 5as shown, or individual to each of the studs, although it is preferredto use the construction illustrated. At the end of each of the slidesadjacent the frame member with which it is related is an upwardly curvedportion 25 adapted to enter 10 the corresponding slot M for the purposeof urging the back I8 into film holding contact. The opposite end ofeach of the members 22 is formed into a hinge element 25 whichcooperates with a pintle 21 and a corresponding hinge ele- 15 ment onthe corresponding link 28. Each of the links 28 is hingedly connectedwith the central member 29, as indicated at 30. Between the hingeconnections 30 the edge of the member 29 is preferably turned up, asshown at 3|, or 20 rounded off to assist the operator in grasping it.The back I8 may also be cut away through a portion of its depth adjacentthe parts 3| to provide finger openings 32. A tab 33 may be securedsimilarly to the member 29 for grasping. 26

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the sliding member 22 is allowed tocontact the back [8 by reason of the countersinking of the collar 23into the back l8, as shown. In other respects this modification isidentical with that 0 illustrated in the other figures.

It is an important feature of my invention that the degree of pressurecan be determined and made uniform by the height of the up-curvedportions 25 which engage in the slots I l. The 35 use of square metallictubing for the frame members is especially adaptable to this purpose, itbeing only necessary to provide the slot l4 extending completely to theupper wall of the tubing, as shown. Should it happen that too much metalwere cut away from the upper edge of the inner wall in the process ofmilling the slots M, the accuracy would not be impaired because themember 25 would extend far enough into the tube to engage the innersurface of the upper wall. Furthermore, the use of the square metallictubing for the frame members l0 results in considerable reduction inweight without loss of rigidity.

In operation, the cassette just described may be both unlocked andopened about the hinges by the same operation, namely, grasping themember 29 or tab 33 and pulling upwardly, Such operation results firstin withdrawal of the slides 22 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and thenby the same motion in hinging of the back l8 about the member It. Theclosing operation likewise can be performed with one hand; and a singleoperation suflices both to close the back and lock the same in properposition.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a cassette, a frame, a. window secured thereto, a back hingedlyconnected therewith, adapted to be received therein and carryinglatching means adapted to cooperate with said frame for holding suchback in position with respect thereto and pressing the same toward saidwindow, a single control means for operating said latches and movingsaid back about its hinges, said control means comprising mechanismwhereby a continuous motion of a single element without abrupt change indirection results in unlatching the latching means and moving said backabout its hinges or moving said back to closed position and latchingsaid latching means.

WAYNE C. HUNT.

